FEATURED PRODUCTS

Two Indiana representatives have been working to improve the product exclusion process for steel and aluminum tariffs to reduce burdens on manufacturers and other small businesses. This is in reaction to the President’s decision earlier this year to impose greater tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

Representative Jackie Walorski (IN-02) this week led efforts on a bipartisan letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Thirty-nine members of the House of Representatives asked the secretary to implement changes to streamline the process and provide certainty and relief to small businesses impacted by the tariffs.

“We appreciate that, in response to member and constituent requests, you have implemented a product exclusion process for the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs,” it says in the letter. “However, we are concerned that over a month after the process began, the review process is moving far too slowly and that it places a significant burden on manufacturers, especially small businesses. We write today to urge you to make needed changes to that process that would improve how it functions and provide relief to small businesses.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN-08), who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Aluminum Caucus, recently met with Secretary Ross to specifically discuss Section 232 on aluminum. In this meeting, the co-chairs cautioned Secretary Ross against a one-size-fits-all approach on aluminum tariffs.

“Chinese aluminum overcapacity has had a negative impact on the global aluminum market – forcing U.S. companies to scale back their operations or even close their doors. I applaud the Trump administration for working to address China’s unfair trade practices, but I urge the administration to take a comprehensive look at a targeted approach when it comes to aluminum tariffs.

“It is imperative to address this issue without harming our integrated aluminum supply chain, which is why I support permanent exemptions, without quotas, for our responsible trading partners,” said Bucshon.